Chapter Three

Joan's Pov

I froze under the voice of Alpha Rex. "Did he just call me mate?" I thought to myself. "Does it mean I am his mate?" When I turned to meet his gaze, he had a frown on his face. I was twice as shocked as he is.

I couldn't believe any of these, plus the numerous eyes staring at us. "No, this is not possible. There must be a mistake somewhere. You're wrong, it can't be me. I can't be your mate." I said, shaking my head continuously as I stepped backwards from him.

"Look here, young lady, as much as you think this is a mistake, you better start accepting your reality. And bear in mind, none of this changes anything between us." He said as a matter of fact.

"You're lying!" I yelled. "This is all fake! I can't be your mate! I'd rather rot in hell than to accept you. I don't want…"

He grabbed my hand tightly. "You better shut the fuck up and act  for once." He growled, his voice low but hard. His gaze was piercing to the bones, and there was no single joy in the way he looked at me.

Alpha Rex does hate me, and realizing I am his mate has only gotten things worse for the both of us. I guess he wasn't expecting it to be me. I mean, who in his right sense would ever imagine someone like me as a mate?

I'm just eighteen with no parents. Looking so messy like I've been picked up from some junk garbage store room. He made an eye sign to Mrs Green, while she came to our direction, he walked away.

I realized I was even more terrified of her than I was of him. Her looks alone can send one to his grave. "Don't feel so excited about tonight, Miss Crawford, your journey has only begun."

Was she threatening me or what? I didn't bother asking.

I followed her to who-knows-where. We got to a room, it was so beautiful and had pink decorations in it. I've never gotten the chance to be in here until today, and somehow I was feeling freedom knocking on my door.

But I tried my best not to let any of this look new to me. It was obviously clear to me that none of this was going to change anything.

"Get a shower and get dressed too. I'll be back in the next ten minutes. The Alpha queen wants to see you, don't keep her waiting."

"How am I supposed to get dressed when I don't even know what to wear?" I asked.

"You can check the wardrobe for one and stop trying to act new. No more questions, get things done already. Remember, you have ten minutes for this." She left.

I think the hatred has just skyrocketed into a different level. The way she looks at me seems odd. I didn't let any of these bother me, I shut the door close, heading towards the wardrobe. I opened it, citing a royal blue gown already folded at one end of the wardrobe with silver heels on it.

I picked it, dropping it on the bed. Then I went into the bathroom to get a shower which didn't take much of my time. I made sure I had my skin scrubbed very well to avoid looking dirty before the Alpha and his mother.

I wasn't good with make-up. I did my best to apply the few I got, like the face powder, the lipgloss and eye pencil. I braided my hair in two but halfway, then made a ponytail with the unbraided hair. I walked back to the bed, putting on my gown.

It took my minutes to figure out how to walk on heels, and honestly I still couldn't figure a way out. I have never worn heels before, to talk about walking on them. Mrs Green walked in, glaring at me.

"Aren't you done yet?" She asked.

"I am. But…" I paused, unable to say the words.

"But what?" She questioned.

"I can't walk in heels, can I get something else? Like a flat shoe or something?" She requested.

"If you have any in mind to purchase, then you're free to. The king is done already, we should probably be on our way to the dining."

Dining? No one told me this meeting is for dinner.

A lady walked in, looking furnished. Her skin glowed like that of an Asian, with her red lips which enhanced every beauty she possessed. Her shape was something else, the kind I had always admired. Her hips were curvy, her breasts round with a flat tummy which complemented the gown she was putting on.

"So, this is the famous Joan Crawford." She said, I wish I can tell where this is actually heading to. "Now I see why he never liked you. You don't deserve him, and you don't deserve his love. You don't even deserve to be called his queen. Your type isn't for people like Alpha Rex, your type belongs to the rogue."

She scanned me from head to toe. She scoffed, leaving the room. I felt ashamed of myself, feeling unpresentable even with the new outfit I was putting on. "Don't just stand there, get your ass moving, will you?" Mrs Green sounded and we made our way down stairs to the dining room.

Luna Ryan was already seated on one of the chairs with Alpha Rex. I know Alpha Rex to be a handsome Alpha, but never have I seen him looking this breathtaking before. He was talking with his mother and they didn't notice my entrance.

The Luna was quite old, but still looked young in her late sixties. I noticed her hand was shaking, her smile wasn't much like she always does back then when she was healthy. Nature does have a way of calling its people.

She looked in my direction, her face plastered with a smile. "Wow! Look what we have here." She said in utmost excitement. "Oh gracious goodness, Rex, you never told me you have a beautiful mate."

I noticed the smile on Alpha Rex's face, though it was captivating, but it looked more like he was forcing it out. "Good evening, Your Majesty." I bowed my head in respect.

"Good evening, dear. I'm so glad to see you tonight. Please, have a seat." She gestured for me to sit down on the chair beside Alpha Rex's chair. "Finally the day has come, now I can leave this earth in peace when death comes calling. But, I pray the moon goddess will grant me the grace to live till I see my grandchildren."

"Don't worry, mother, she will." He said, assuring her.

"Yes. Of course, she will." She nodded her head. "You just don't know how happy I am tonight, finally you've found yourself a mate, after all those years of living single.

"I wasn't doing that on purpose, mother, I just wasn't in the mood to have a mate yet."

"And you still aren't in the mood?" She questioned.

I slowly looked at him, waiting for a response or reaction. He looked back at me, he hesitated. "No. I'm happy I finally found one."

I shyly took my gaze off, burying it on the salad in front of me. I was feeling comfortable with the environment, not because of the Luna's presence, but I was actually feeling that way because of Alpha Rex.

I quivered at his touch on my hand as he folded his palms with mine. My system was doing the opposite, I could feel every part of my body responding to his touch, causing goosebumps on my skin.

"I have promised myself to do whatever it takes to protect her, and to stand by her side." He said, sounding real.

But deep down inside of me, something tells me this is all an act.